● MONDAY, April 30

Details about reporting of incomes by lawyers of law firms

The lawyers of law firms were included in the category of tax payers who report revenues based on the standard form DAJ17. This is a form of the tax return for persons who practice professional activities in the legal system. Based on this standard form, revenues are reported by notaries, legal experts, authorized administrators, mediators, lawyers of law offices and lawyers on probation.

Moldova’s Post Office to levy tax for Post Terminal service

As of May 1, Moldova’s Post Office will levy a tax of 10 lei for collecting parcels through post terminals. Until now the service was free. The payment could be made through the terminal and online. According to the head of the Marketing and Sales Division Elena Ganchukova, the tax will be levied because this is a commercial service and the promotional period expired.

● WEDNESDAY, May 2

Fuel price ceilings raised

The National Agency for Energy Regulation announced the fuel price ceilings for the next two weeks. As from May 2 until May 15, the ceilings for gasoline and diesel fuel will be by 0.35 lei higher. A liter of gasoline 95 will be sold for at most 18.82 lei, as opposed to 18.47 lei during the past two weeks. Diesel fuel will cost at most 16.79 lei, as against 16.44 lei until now.

New Code of Railway Transport eliminates monopoly on railway services market

The New Code of Railway Transport that was proposed for public debates eliminates the monopoly of the state-run enterprise Moldova’s Railway on the railway services market. Under the proposed initiative, the infrastructure will belong to the Head of State, while the traction and passenger and freight transportation services could be provided by private operators. The Code was drafted by the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure. Together with the restructuring of Moldova’s Railways and the coming into force of the new Code of Railway Transport, the Government will be obliged to partially finance the maintaining and reconstruction of the railway infrastructure and to provide subsidies to passenger rail transport operators.

Central bank publishes selling prices of jubilee and commemorative coins

The National Bank of Moldova published the selling prices of jubilee and commemorative coins issued in 2011-2018. The golden coin with the inscription “100 years of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania” with the face value of 1,000 lei is the most expensive one. This costs over 26,000 lei. The golden coin “20 years of introduction of national currency in the Republic of Moldova” will be sold for 11,399 lei, while the golden coin “555 years of enthronement of Stephan the Great and Holy” for 11,246 lei. The golden coin “Constantin Stere” of the series “Alley of Classical Writers of the Public Garden “Stefan cel Mare si Sfant” costs 6,332 lei. The coins “Alexei Mateevici – 100 years of the death“ and “Mihail Kogalniceanu – 200 years of the birth” cost 6,290 lei each, “Ion Creanga” – 5,797 lei, while “Adrian Paunescu” – 5,783 lei.

Development of crops affected by lack of rain

Owing to the high temperatures and lack of precipitation, the reserve of moisture that was present in the soil at the end of March was used up. The seeds were sowed in practically dry soil and now they do not have the moisture needed to sprout. Vasile Sarban, division head at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, said the irrigation is the only solution, but this method cannot be used on large areas.

Moldovan apples can be exported to Israel

The National Food Safety Agency obtained permission that enables Moldovan producers to export apples to Israel. The producers will have to invite an inspector of the Agency to examine the orchard in the vegetation period and to study visually 2% of the consignment before export. When applying for a phytosanitary certificate, the exporter will specify that the production place and consignment of fruits were inspected and were free from pests that pose a phytosanitary threat to the importing country.

Air Moldova provides first flight to Yekaterinburg

Air Moldova as of April 28 has provided direct flights to the Russian city Yekaterinburg three times a week. The price of a one-way ticket starts from €106, with all taxes included. In a press release, the airline says Yekaterinburg became the fourth destination in Russia to which Air Moldova operates flights, after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Krasnodar.

National heritage museum to be opened at MIMI Castle

A conservation museum of national heritage, people’s traditions and wine history will be built at the MIMI Castle. A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the Moldova Competitiveness Project and the company Castel MIMI. The memorandum provides that cultural events will be staged on the territory of the MIMI Castle, such as traditional holidays, fairs with potential of attracting local and foreign tourists, thematic conferences, congressesand regional and international competitions. There will be set up a Community Professional Formation Center that will host training sessions and masterclasses.

● THURSDAY, May 3

Court of Auditors analyzes national health protection programs

The Court of Auditors, in a public meeting on May 3, presented an audit report on the financial situations of the national health protection programs on December 31, 2017. Senior state inspector Irina Pantea said the audit was conducted at the request of the foreign backer, the World Bank, in accordance with the conditions specified in the financing agreement between Moldova and the International Development Association. The five-year financing agreement was signed in July 2014 to implement the program “Moldovan Health Sector Modernization”. The IDA pledged to offer US$ 30.8 million, US$ 28.7 million of which in the form of budget support and US$ 2.1 million in technical assistance.

● FRIDAY, May 4

New road built between Festelita and Marianca de Jos villages of Stefan Voda district

A new road connects the villages Festelita and Marianca de Jos villages of Stefan Voda district. The artery will also ensure connection with the Chisinau-Causeni national road, facilitating the residents’ access to the district center and the border crossing point Palanca. The road was built within a regional development project. In the project completion event, Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Liviu Volconovici said the ensuring of the people’s access to modern infrastructure and public services of a high quality remains a priority of the state. It is an objective that will contribute to enhanced competitiveness of the national economy and to the people’s welfare if it is achieved.

National products will occupy at least half of length of shelves

At least 50% of the linear length of a shelf in stores will be intended for displaying products made in Moldova. Parliament passed a bill to this effect in the first reading. The bill authors also suggest capping the discounts on food products by 10% so as to balance the negotiating power of the contracting sides. A period is set for marketing and adverting activities. The promotional period per product will be at most 60 days a year, while the period for paying bills will be 7, 30 and 45 days.

Subsidies for those who will employ jobless persons from vulnerable groups

The employers who will hire unemployed persons from vulnerable groups, including persons with dishabilles, could get subsidies from the state for partially covering the salary of these. This is provided in a bill to promote employment that was adopted by Parliament in the first reading on May 4. Under the bill, monthly subsidies equal to 30% of the average official salary for the previous year will be offered for a period of six months for each employed jobless person. The subsidies will be provided especially for partially covering the salary of the employed person from the aforementioned groups.